US envoy to meet Israel's Netanyahu on Thursday: spokesman
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, mediating a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday after holding talks in Beirut with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Hochstein indicated progress in negotiations, stating a resolution is "within our grasp."
- Middle East
- AFP
- Published Date: 01:22 | 21 November 2024
- Modified Date: 01:24 | 21 November 2024
US envoy Amos Hochstein, seeking to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, the premier's office said.
The announcement by spokesman Omer Dostri came after Israeli media outlets reported that Hochstein had arrived in Israel on Wednesday evening and held talks with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
The meeting between Hochstein and Netanyahu was scheduled to take place at 12:30 pm (1030 GMT), according to a statement from the Israeli leader's Likud party.
In Beirut on Wednesday, the US envoy met twice with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who has led mediation efforts on behalf of the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group.
Wednesday's meeting "made additional progress, so I will travel from here in a couple hours to Israel to try to bring this to a close if we can", Hochstein told reporters in the Lebanese capital.
Hochstein had said on Tuesday that an end to the war was "within our grasp".
Ahead of his arrival, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said: "In any agreement we will reach, we will need to keep the freedom to act if there will be violations."
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